Lady Cardinals rally for win

Wednesday

Jan 16, 2013 at 12:19 PM

By BOB MITCHELL

By BOB MITCHELL

Correspondent

The Case High School Lady Cardinals basketball team rallied from a second half nine point deficit to defeat the Apponequet Lakers, 37-32, in the friendly confines of Monahan gymnasium. In the process they picked up their second win of the season.

Case's offense took a while to get going but their excellent defense was enough to keep the Lakers from pulling away. Case Coach Dave Silva said, "it's our ability to play multiple defenses that made a difference; we forced 27 turnovers and had 17 steals."

It was just 8-5 after the opening quarter as sophomore Ellie Roberts scored four early points for the home Cardinals. Roberts was scrappy throughout the game for rebounds and any loose balls and she demonstrated noticeable improvement in the transition game.

The Lakers responded by scoring nine unanswered points to start the second frame. However, a lay-up by Julee Leonardo and an outside shot by Chelsea Carpenter pulled the Lady Cardinals within two at 14-12. Both baskets were assisted by co-captain Jenna Reposa who did a great job as the floor general for her young team. Her fellow co-captain Jess Pavao played shut down defense and it was her stellar defensive play that kept the Lady Cardinals within striking range. Unfortunately for the Lady Cardinals, the Lakers caught them sleeping as Callie Nee buried a three with just 2.3 seconds to go in the half.

As a result, the third quarter opened up with Apponequet enjoying a 17-12 lead. After a lay-up by Nee and two made Laker free throws, the advantage was stretched to nine pints (21-12). The Lady Cardinals refused to yield on their home court as Leonardo sank a free throw, and Roberts finished off a fast break on an excellent pass from Pavao. This cut the lead to 21-15 and Reposa further cut into the lead when she buried a three to make it 21-18. Carpenter then hit a three off another assist from Reposa and after a Laker basket the third period concluded with the visitors holding a 24-20 lead.

The four-point lead could not stand up to both the resiliency and sheer will of the Lady Cardinals. The composure and leadership of Pavao and Reposa (as well as excellent coaching and game management by Dave Silva) saw the Lady Cardinals break out of their offensive funk and post 17 fourth quarter points. Reposa hit two free throws and nailed a big outside shot to bring Case to within one at 26-25. A made Leonardo free throw tied the score at 26-26 with just 4:11 to go.

The Lakers were not going to go quietly as they scored the next two baskets to increase their lead to four, with just under three minutes remaining in the contest. Leonardo's three point shot was negated by an outside offering of Laker Kailyn Milligan to give Apponequet a three-point advantage and seemingly control of the game. Pavao, who had trouble getting her shots to fall earlier in the game, put the team on her back and scored on back-to-back possessions to put the Lady Cardinals in the driver's seat with only 27 ticks of the clock to go.

As the clock wound down, Chelsea Carpenter was immense as she nearly single handedly sealed the victory. She corralled a rebound off a missed Laker free throw with eight seconds to go. In these final eight seconds, she went three for four from the line and had a key steal with only two seconds left. Leonardo led the way in scoring with 11 points and she played a part in many of the Lakers 27 turnovers. The slick passing Reposa finished with seven and has been more of an offensive force recently and probably has the highest field goal percentage on the team. Pavao had an important six points and was a stone wall on defense as she held her opposing players to just five points. Carpenter chipped in with seven timely points. "It's huge how she has stepped up into the starting lineup, because of an injury and made a difference," said Silva.

Roberts finished with five and was an important contributor in both rebounding and defense. Jenna Medeiros was one for two from the line and showed flashes of a player who will make an important contribution in the second half of the season. Silva summarized, "We went into the fourth quarter down four points and the senior captains kept their composure and when the game was on the line in the last two minutes they scored eight points."

After playing Seekonk last night, the next game for the Lady Cardinals is on Friday at 6:30 p.m. away at Dighton Rehoboth.